Inside this issue:

Question of the

month/Getting to

know your Neighbors

2

Meet the Resource 3

Upcoming events 4

Happy April! I want to start off

with a heartfelt THANK YOU to

BTYR Buffalo for sending me

your bio and pictures!! I appreci-

ate you!

This month within the FAC we

have been training and adjusting

to our new contracts. An update

on attending your meetings, I am

able to attend one meeting quar-

terly in person and am able to

phone in/teleconference for any

other meetings that I may be

needed at.

My goal is to support your

groups, help network, share best

business practices, and help mar-

ket events and fundraisers that

you are doing. I am very thankful

for all you do for our Service

Members, Veterans, and Military

Families.

I am setting up my schedule for

the Summer, please let me know

what meeting I am able to attend

for your group. I still have the

Yellow Ribbon Bags and goodies

for each of you, if you have not

received yours and are in the Ar-

den Hills area, please feel free to

come by for them, otherwise I will

bring them to your meetings as I

attend.

I have toys, books, Girl Scout

cookies, and can get coffee, so if

Arden Hills Family Assistance

Center Beyond the Yellow

Ribbon Monthly News

An idea for community business

window stickers :

April 2017

Volume , Issue

You have upcoming events/family days etc, please know that these are available to you, just let me know what you need and when you can pick it up. On a personal note, I would like to share an article that was written about the impact on our FAC’s nationwide: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/workers-who-really-do-support-our-troops-are-getting-their-wages-slashed/2017/04/24/1318dee4-2922-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.d4a676ef2c9c

Introducing Beyond the Yellow Ribbon-Buffalo:

I am the secretary for BTYR Buffalo. I have been a part of it since we began meeting and planning

in December 2011. We received our proclamation in June 2013. We have worked to create a com-

mittee that is committed to providing support, services, and resources to our service members and

their families. We also have been involved in community programs to recognize and honor our vet-

erans. We have participated in community activities to help build awareness of BTYR, such as

walking in our annual Buffalo Parade.

Most challenging for us has been to find service members who need our assistance. The veterans

that we have been able to help have been very rewarding. We are pleased and honored to serve and

recognize those who have given so much to their country!

Our most successful event has been a Military Appreciation Picnic that we hold every year. It has

been a good way for us to recognize and honor our Buffalo veterans, service members, and their

families and also provides us with more exposure to the community. We are proud to be serving in

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.

Lisa Dohrmann/Secretary BTYR-Buffalo

Question of the Month: How can I get the word out in my community about

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon?

Arden Hills Family Assistance Center Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Monthly Page 2

Get To Know Your Neighbor: BTYR Buffalo

Use your local TV and Radio Stations

Attend Town Hall Meetings

Attend a Chamber of commerce meeting to request local business support of BTYR

Utilize public bulletin boards through the County Court Houses, Churches, and Eating establishments

Have Members bring your fliers to the businesses that they already utilize to network for partnerships

Have a table at City/County events such as parades, carnivals, PTA school events etc.

Entice local business participation by “rewarding” with window decals to show that they support Yellow

Ribbon/Service Members/Military Families

Partner with local libraries/school libraries to provide Military Books for military children in your area

Set up Yellow Ribbon school activities (I have some curriculum if you need some fresh ideas)

Set up Reading time for students or through your local library to share military related books

Meet this Month’s Resource: Vet Centers

This resource is a wonderful support system for

Both veterans and their families.

They help with common readjustment issues:

Employment Alcohol/Drug Use

Anger Depression

Trauma Experiences Anxiety

Family Issues Isolation

Parenting Mental Health

Children Sense of Belonging

Relationship Issues Grief

Typical Services:

Individual Counseling Benefit Assistance

Group Counseling Substance Abuse

Couples therapy Employment

Family Pre/Post Deployment VA Claims

Military Sexual Trauma Wellness and Recreational Support

Groups

All services provided for Veterans are free and confidential. Services are

limited to Veteran/Combat Veterans and their Families.

In the Metro area we have 2 Vet Center locations to choose from:

Brooklyn Park VA Center St Paul Veterans Resource Center

7001 78th Ave N Suite 300 550 County Rd D Suite 10

Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 New Brighton, MN 55112

763-503-2220 651-644-4022

877-927-8387 www.vetcenter.va.gov

www.vetcenter.va.gov

Page 3 Volume , Issue

Events being hosted by Beyond the Yellow Ribbons:

May 8 – Suburban Ramsey County BTYR Burger Night 5-7pm White Bear Lake VFW

(Every Second Monday of the Month) 4496 Lake Ave S, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

May 24 – Hugo BTYR Burger Night 5-8PM (Every 4th Wednesday Monthly) Hugo Ameri-

can Legion 5383 140th St N Hugo, MN 55038

May 13– Zimmerman American Legion Riders Event– Proceeds go to Isanti County BTYR

Please let me know if you area is hosting a fundraiser or event and I will list it here

as well!

This month our area Yellow Ribbons have helped with:

*Giving a homeless service member a place to live for a week to get him out of his car

*Provided a set of stairs for a Veteran so he could leave his home safely

*Provided support for Scoops for troops

*Provided assistance for a family dealing with cancer

Thank you for all you do to support and assist our military, veterans, and their fam-

Like us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/

mn.militaryfamilyassistancecenters/

Ben Franklin Readiness Center

1536 Ben Franklin Dr

Arden Hills, MN 55112

Phone: 651-282-4055

Email: yolonda.m.vonitter.ctr@mail.mil

A r d e n H i l l s F a m i l y

A s s i s t a n c e C e n t e r

You make the call, We’ll

make the difference